Top corporates join hands for World Aids Day

Special World Aids Day Song launched by popular singers

The Sri Lanka Business Coalition for HIV and Aids comprising of the top business community in Sri Lanka yesterday launched an innovative media campaign to help reduce stigma and discrimination through education and awareness.

The public campaign starring corporate celebrities Dian Gomez and Kishu Gomez as well as leading filmstar and HIV AIDS activist Nita Fernando hopes to lead the way in creating an inclusive society, transforming attitudes and shaping perceptions towards those with HIV. The Campaign is endorsed by the National STD and AIDS Control Program.

The day was also commemorated with the release of a special song dedicated to Dr Kamalika Abeyratne, a pioneer HIV AIDS Activist in Sri Lanka. Lyrics for the trilingual song were written by Vasantha Kumara Kobawaka, music by Jagath Wickremasinghe and the visual directed by Senesh Dissanayake Bandara. Proceeds from this song will be used through the Living with Hope Foundation, set up by Nita Fernando, to respect and protect the rights of those with HIV AIDS in Sri Lanka. The song is sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank and the Business Coalition on HIV and AIDs.

The Coalition which was founded in November 2007, has a rapidly growing membership of Multinationals/Large Local Corporates and SMEs who have aligned themselves to this Business Coalition, committed to bringing together the Government, the business community and civil society in the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Coalition has partnered organizations such as the National STD/AIDS Control Programme of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor, ILO, UNAIDS, Chambers of Commerce, and Employers Federation.

The Coalition has also been very busy in the last year conducting sensitization programs and peer educator programs for its member organizations. Sessions include training for senior level management, peer leaders, production floor staff to medical staff. The training materials developed in both English and the local language is shared with the organisation at no cost.

The coalition is also driving Sri Lanka’s business sector to implement much needed HIV Work Place Policies throughout their organizations. The policy would provide a framework for action to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, avoid stigma towards those living with the disease and manage its impact on the labour force. The Coalition provides awareness training sessions and customized policy development services at no cost to the organizations. It also provides a platform for centers of expertise, resources and material to be shared.

The Coalitions pool of trainers include Standard Chartered Bank’s HIV Champions, John Keells Holdings CSR Champions, ILO and Labour Ministry Trainers.

In the long term the Coalition plans to identify vulnerable subgroups in sectors that are often difficult to access and encourage businesses working in those areas to join the coalition and thereby raise awareness through the shared learning and skills of the existing members.

Clive Haswell, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank said, “There have been many individual efforts made by businesses in response to the epidemic, but this is not enough. Partnering the national response to HIV/AIDS needs to be an intrinsic component of the way in which every company operates. Isolated centers of expertise, resources and material are available within the business sector, but there is a lack of engagement of corporates and access to existing resources and best practices. It is therefore apparent that there is a critical need for an entity to bring together civil society, NGO’s and the corporate sector. It is our hope that the Business Coalition will fill this gap.”

While Sri Lanka is considered a low prevalence country, research has indicated that HIV spreads faster and is most deadly in countries that are burdened with widespread poverty and armed conflict. Where poverty and armed conflict exist simultaneously, HIV/AIDS becomes a development setback that can erase nearly four decades of economic progress.

Membership of The Sri Lanka Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS

1. Aitken Spence
2. Aliwaffa Gem
3. American Best Brands
4. American Chamber
5. Asiri Surgical
6. Association of Educational Professionals
7. Associated Motorway
8. B. P. De Silva
Investments
9. BASF Finlay
10. Brandix Lanka
11. Business for Peace
Alliance
12. Carsons Cumberbath
13. Ceylon Bank Employee’s Union
14. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
15. Ceylon Dipped Products
16. Ceylon Tobacco
Company
17. Chemical Industries Colombo
18. Chevron Lubricants Lanka
19. Columbia Sportswear
20. Delmege Forsyth & Co.
21. DFCC Bank
22. Dialog Telekom
23. European Chamber of Commerce
24. Grip Furniture
25. Hatton National Bank
26. Hemas Pharmaceuticals
27. Indian Overseas Bank
28. Joint Plantation Trade Union Center
29. John Keells Holdings
30. Kottagala Plantations
31. Lankaputhra Development Bank
32. Mac Holdings
33. Mackwoods Group
34. Ocean Lanka
35. PABC Bank
36. Premasiri Stores
37. Rotary International District 3220 Sri Lanka
38. Sampath Bank
39. Shell Gas Lanka
40. Shore to Shore
41. Sri Lanka Telecom
42. Sri Lanka Nidhas Rajaye Vurthiya Samithi Samelanaya
43. Standard Chartered Bank
44. State Bank of India
45. Textured jersey Lanka
46. Toyota Lanka
47. Union Bank of Colombo
48. Unilever Sri Lanka